NARRATIVE 


or 


RECENT  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  APPOINTED  BV  THE 


h 


VEARLV  MEETING  OF  FRIENDS  OF  NEW- YORK, 


IN  RSLATION  TO 


THE  INDIANS 

IN  THAT  STATE. 


PUBLISlieP  FOn  THE  INFORMATION  O."  FRIENDS. 


NEW-YOKK  : 


MERCEIN  t POJt’s  PRES^,  240  PEABL  STREET. 


18.39. 


NARRATIVE 


or 


RECENT  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  APPOINTED  BY  THE 
YEARLY  MEETING  OF  FRIENDS  OF  NEW^YORK, 


IN  RELATION  TO 


THE  INDIANS 


IN  THAT  STATE. 


PUBLISHED  FOR  THE  INFORMATION  OF  FRIENDS. 


NEVV-YORK  ; 


MERCEIK  * post’s  PRESS,  240  PEARL  STREET. 


18.39 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/narrativeofrecenOOnewy 


NARRATIVE, 


&c. 


It  is  well  known,  that  the  members  of  our  religious  society 
have  long  felt  a deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  Aboriginal 
Inhabitants  of  this  land  ; and  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  New-York, 
has,  for  many  years,  extended  a care  over  some  of  the  tribes  in  this 
state. 

During  the  sittings  of  our  last  Yearly  Meeting,  this  committee 
appointed  some  of  their  number  to  visit  the  Indians,  in  order  to 
obtain  more  full  information  than  they  then  possessed,  of  their 
condition  and  prospects. 

In  the  7th  month  following,  the  Friends  separated  to  that  service, 
made  the  following  report. 

TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  TUE  YEARLY  MEETING  OF  NEW-YORK,  ON 
INDIAN  CONCERNS. 

The  friends  appointed  by  the  Committee  on  Indian  Concerns,  in 
New-York,  to  co-operate  with  like  committees  appointed  by  the 
Yearly  Meetings  of  Philadelphia  and  Genesee,  in  visiting,  as  way 
might  open,  the  Indian  Reservations  within  the  state  of  New-York, 
may  inform,  that  in  pursuance  of  these  several  appointments,  John 
Wilson  Moore  and  Joseph  S.  Walton,  of  Philadelphia,  Charles 
Marriott  and  Abraham  Bell,  of  New-York,  and  Griffith  M.  Cooper, 
William  S.  Burling  and  Elisha  Freeman,  of  Genesee,  have  visited 
a number  of  those  settlements  ; and  now  offer  the  following  report : 

O-NONDAGAS. 

On  the  7th  day  of  the  6th  month,  1839,  three  of  the  committee 
visited  the  Onondaga  Indians.  Their  Reservation  is  situated  about 
seven  miles  South  from  Syracuse.  We  were  told  it  was  two  and 
a quarter  miles  wide,  by  three  and  three-quarters  long,  and  contains 
a population  of  three  hundred  persons.  As  this  tribe  is  the  one 
towards  which  the  labors  of  Friends  in  New-York  Yearly  Meeting, 


4 


NARnATIVB  OP  THE  COMMITTEE 


have  been  heretofore  chiefly  directed,  they  '.vill  naturally  inquire 
with  what  success  ? 

At  the  time  our  committee  first  visited  the  Onondagas,  we  are 
informed,  there  was  but  one  house  in  the  whole  Reservation, 
and  the  committee  placed  the  door  of  that  house  upon  four 
stakes  driven  into  the  earth,  to  form  a table,  from  which  to 
eat  the  provisions  they  carried  with  them.  A few  miserable 
bark  huts  formed  the  rest  of  their  habitations,  and  the  people 
were  in  as  wretched  a state  as  could  well  be  imagined.  Cut  off 
from  their  former  means  of  support,  the  chase — oppressed,  despised, 
and  robbed  with  impunity  by  the  whites. 

The  Indian  met  with  no  encouragement  from  the  white  man,  to 
improve  his  condition,  and  the  distance  between  their  two  modes  of 
life  appeared  utterly  impassable.  Hopeless  of  better  days,  he  gave 
himself  up  to  intemperance  and  listless  inaction,  waiting  the  ap- 
proach of  that  which  seemed  to  be  his  inevitable  fate,  the  speedy 
extinction  of  his  race,  in  wretchedness  ! 

At  this  period,  the  hearts  of  a few  individuals  were  touched,  we 
doubt  not,  by  the  finger  of  Him  who  implanted  compassion  in  the 
human  breast,  to  stretch  forth  a hand  of  help.  This  feeling,  through 
their  instrumentality  became  diffused  to  others,  and  aided  by  the 
energy  and  faithfulness  of  our  devoted  friend  Aden  T.  Cory,  for 
many  years  the  resident  Superintendent  for  the  Society  of  Friends 
to  this  tribe,  and  whose  name  is  dear  to  them,  great  good  has  been 
effected. 

Attached  to  the  first  Indian  habitation  we  approached,  we  saw 
a field  of  six  or  eight  acres  of  excellent  wheat,  and  another  about 
as  large,  of  oats,  and  seven  fine  cows  grazing.  The  house  was  a 
respectable  looking  fra.me  dwelling,  perhaps  twenty  by  thirty  feet, 
one  story  and  a half  high,  much  like  those  belonging  to  the  mid- 
dling class  of  w hites.  The  next  tw'o  were  of  a similar  description; 
we  observed  in  one  of  them  a curled  maple  table,  wdndsor  chairs, 
«fcc.  ; before  the  door  were  tw'o  new  ploughs,  and  two  new  scrapers 
for  making  and  repairing  the  roads  through  the  Reservation.  What 
we  saw  of  these  lands  appeared  more  hilly  than  the  surrounding 
country — the  soil  was  fertile,  with  some  rich  valleys  ; w'e  follow'ed 
the  road  through  one  of  these  about  a mile  ; there  was  a good  fence 
on  each  side,  from  six  to  nine  rails  high  ; and  we  saw  some  fine 
meadows  and  fields  of  corn,  potatoes,  beans,  <Scc. 

Their  council-house  is  a commodious  white  frame  buidling.  We 


ON  INDIAN  CONCERNS. 


5 


visited  about  a dozen  houses,  mostly  frame,  though  some  were  built 
of  hewn  logs ; in  most  of  them  we  saw  a churn,  and  in  one  an  In- 
dian woman  was  churnins  when  we  entered.  Most  of  the  Indians, 

O 

we  were  told,  keep  one  or  more  cows,  and  their  barns  are  at  least  as 
numerous  as  their  houses.  Their  lodgings  are  on  cot-bedsteads — 
the  beds  and  a few  simple  articles  of  furniture  exhibit  but  little 
neatness  or  order.  A wooden  mortar  and  pestle,  for  pounding  corn, 
a few  iron  pots,  stools  and  wooden  utensils,  with  scarcely  an  arti- 
cle  of  crockery,  seemed  generally  to  comprise  their  whole  stock  of 
household  furniture.  Some  of  the  houses  have  only  shutters  with- 
out glass  windows.  The  Indians  were  decently  dressed,  some  made 
a good  appearance,  though  many  retained  peculiarities  of  the 
red  man,  such  as  broaches,  ear-rings,  bead  embroidered  leggins, 
&c.  They  make  good  sleds,  and  we  saw  one  making  a plough- 
beam  in  a workman-like  manner  ; he  lived  in  a good  two-story 
frame  house.  They  have  too  many  horses  and  dogs  ; but  not 
enough  other  domestic  animals,  such  as  cows,  sheep,  pigs  and  poul- 
try. Their  houses  are  mostly  about  twenty  by  thirty  feet,  gene- 
rally not  painted  ; they  own  a saw-mill  and  rent  it  to  a white  man, 
who  saws  their  logs  on  sha;»es.  There  is  no  grist-mill  in  the 
settlement,  though  they  have  many  good  mill-sites.  They  want 
mechanics,  particularly  blacksmiths.  But  few  of  them  under- 
stand English,  hence  we  found  it  difficult  to  communicate  with 
them.  It  appears  they  have  never  had  a school,  except 
for  several  short  periods,  while  Aden  T.  Cory  resided  among 
them.  In  conversing,  through  an  interpreter,  with  a few  In- 
dians, including  three  chiefs,  they  expressed  their  willingness 
to  have  a school  established,  if  they  could  obtain  a Friend 
for  teacher,  and  in  that  case  they  might  apply  a part  of  their 
annuity  to  its  support.  VVe  found  some  of  their  people  had 
an  objection  to  school-learning ; having  observed  that  among 
the  whites,  where  it  was  general,  it  did  not  appear  to  have  made 
them  better  men,  whatever  other  advantages  it  had  given  them. 
They  feared  their  young  men,  on  acquiring  it,  might  depart  from 
the  simplicity  of  their  fathers,  associate  with  the  whites,  become 
dissipated,  and  “sell  away  the  lands  of  the  nation.” 

These  objections,  wo  think,  might  be  removed  if  they  w'ere  con- 
vinced that  the  evils  they  fear,  and  from  which  they  have  already 
suffered  so  much,  are  not  the  necessary  and  inevitable  attend- 
ants on  civilization  ; they  might  then  view  its  institutions  more 


6 


NAIUIATIVE  OF  THE  COMMITl'EE 


favorably.  We  could  not,  however,  urge  them  to  apply  their  an- 
nuity,  (which  amounts  only  to  the  pittance  of  five  dollars  for  each 
person,)  to  an  object,  in  their  view,  of  doubtful  utility. 

The  state  of  New-York,  only,  has  the  right  of  purchasing  the 
lands  of  the  Onondagas,  whenever  they  may  wish  to  sell.  The 
nation  holds  the  entire  Reservation,  but  each  individual  possesses 
in  severalty,  whatever  land  he  chooses  to  enclose  and  cultivate  ; 
the  whole  product  is  his  own,  and  he  can  even  sell  his  house  and 
improvements  to  any  other  Indian,  but  not  to  a white  man,  though 
white  men  do  occasionally  hire  portions  of  their  lands,  or  cultivate 
them  on  shares.  They  told  us  they  raised  enough  for  their  sup- 
port, and  sold  sufficient  to  afford  them  the  means  of  obtaining  many 
of  the  comforts  of  life.  We  met  several  Indian  teams  loaded  with 
bark,  for  sale,  on  their  way  to  the  tanners.  The  interior  of  their 
habitations,  when  compared  with  those  of  well  ordered  white  fami- 
lies, in  equally  good  circumstances,  would  appear  very  uncomfor- 
table, but  when  contrasted  with  the  bark  wigwams,  &c.,  of  their 
ancestors,  show  great  improvement.  As  they  advatice  in  civiliza- 
tion, their  wants  will  doubtless  increase,  as  well  as  their  ability  to 
supply  them. 

None  of  this  nation  appear  to  have  joined  any  society  of  Chris- 
tian professors  : their  religion  is  of  the  mo.st  simple  character,  incul- 
cating reverence  for  the  Great  Spirit,  and  for  Him  only — and  that 
he  will  reward  them  according  to  their  actions. 

This  nation  does  not,  in  our  opinion,  absolutely  require  any  fur- 
ther aid  from  Friends,  other  than  occasional  advice. 

TOxNA  WANDAS. 

A part  of  the  Committee  on  Indian  Concerns  of  Genesee  Yearly 
Meeting,  now  joined  us,  and  we  proceeded  to  the  Tonawanda  Re- 
servation. 

The  population  is  stated  to  be  between  five  and  six  hundred.  On 
approaching  the  settlement,  we  travelled  on  Indian  lands,  perhaps 
about  two  miles,  on  the  banks  of  a feeder,  made  to  convey  water 
from  the  Tonawanda  Creek  to  the  Erie  Canal.  This  we  learned  had 
impaired  the  value  of  the  creek  for  fishing,  and  greatly  injured 
some  valuable  mill-sites  belonging  to  the  Indians. 

We  had  previously  heard  that  this  was  one  of  the  most  pros- 
perous  Indian  settlements  in  the  state,  and  were  pleased  to  find  it 
answer  our  expectations  ; we  admired  the  general  appearance 


ON  INDIAN  CONCERNS. 


7 


of  comfort  and  improvement  around  us  ; the  ground  was  dry  and 
fertile  and  the  fences  and  crops  were  good. 

We  called  at  the  house  of  Black  Chief,  who  was  absent  ; several 
of  his  family,  men  and  women,  were  hoeing  an  adjoining  field  of 
good  corn  ; none  understood  English  except  the  interpreter,  a white 
man,  who  informed  us  that  all  in  this  settlement  except  one  or  two 
persons,  were  opposed  to  emigration. 

They  appeared  to  be  well  supplied  with  horses,  cattle,  &c. 
Some  of  their  lands  we  found  were  rented  to  while  people,  at  from 
two  to  three  dollars  an  acre  per  annum.  On  visiting  a number  of 
their  houses,  we  found  them  comfortable,  and  their  furniture  and 
cooking  utensils  more  numerous,  and  of  better  quality  than  those 
usually  found  in  Indian  dwellings.  We  called  on  Blacksmith,  a 
chief,  who  had  been  to  Washington  on  account  of  the  treaty,  and 
Avas  anxious  to  learn  its  fate.  On  our  return,  we  again  passed 
near  Black  Chief’s  habitation  ; he  was  then  at  home,  and  advanced 
to  meet  us  with  a warmth  and  animation  of  manner  very  agreeable 
to  us.  We  could  not  hold  much  conversation  Avith  him,  the  inter- 
preter being  absent. 

The  Indians  have  discriminating  minds,  and  the  Avise  among 
them  are  noAv  seeking  to  obtain  the  advantages  of  civilization, 
Avhile  they  Avould  aAoid  the  vices  and  miseries  that  have  heretofore 
been  its  sad  attendants.  The  question  then  arises,  can  Ave  second 
and  strengthen  their  efforts  to  this  end?  We  may  Avatch  over 
them,  to  prevent  the  fraudulent  sale  of  their  lands,  and  endeavor  to 
remove  and  prevent  the  establishment  of  houses  of  intemperance  in 
their  immediate  vicinity.  Atone  of  these,  on  the  very  border  of  their 
Reservation,  Ave  Avere  told  that  a large  proportion  of  the  TonaAvan- 
das  refused  to  taste  spirituous  liquors  ; still  the  temptation  to  others 
is  too  powerful  to  be  resisted,  and  ought  to  be  removed  far  from 
them.  The  religion  of  the  TonaAvandas  is  like  that  of  the  Onon- 
dagas,  and  all  other  North  American  Indians  Avho  have  not  em- 
braced  some  one  of  the  various  professions  of  Christianity, 

TUSCWRORAS. 

6th  month,  15th.  We  visited  the  Tuscarora’s  Reservation,  Avhich 
contains  6920  acres  ; 5000  of  Avhich  Ave  learned  Avere  purchased  by 
the  Indians  from  the  Holland  Land  Company,  and  no  one  holds  a 
pre-emption  right  over  this  portion  of  it.  Populatian  280  persons. 
We  met  here  with  an  old  chief,  Cusack,  who  told  us  he  was  in  favor 


8 


NARRATIVE  OF  THE  COMMITTEE 


of  emigrating,  though  he  was  scarcely  able  to  walk,  from  age  and 
infirmity.  The  rail-road  to  the  Falls  of  Niagara  passes  through 
this  tract,  and  we  were  pleased  to  learn  that  compensation  had 
been  made  to  the  Indians  for  the  injuries  sustained  thereby.  We 
dined  this  day  with  Margaret  Doxtater,  an  Indian  widow,  who 
spoke  good  English,  and  appeared  to  be  an  intelligent  and  pious 
woman.  Her  son  teaches  the  school  at  the  mission  house  ; he  in- 
formed  us  that  a small  proportion  only  of  the  tribe  wished  to  re- 
move, and  that  those  who  have  consented  to  go,  have  mostly  been 
bribed  ; many  evidences  of  this  having  already  come  to  light. 

One  of  our  company  called  with  the  interpreter  on  an  Indian  who 
is  a large  farmer.  He  had  just  finished  ploughing  for  wheat,  a 
field  of  about  twenty  acres,  and  was  enclosing,  from  the  common, 
another  field  of  like  size,  in  good  rail  fence.  We  entered  unex- 
pectedly, and  found  him  sitting  alone,  reading  an  English  Testa- 
ment ; he  had  also  one  in  the  Mohawk  tongue,  which  he  under- 
stood, but  had  learned  Enlish  enough  to  read,  though  not  to  speak 
the  language  ; he  had  also  a hymn-book,  English  and  Indian,  in 
alternate  columns.  He  had  scarcely  reached  middle  age,  owned 
an  excellent  farm,  and  we  were  told  had  earned  and  placed  out  on 
interest  about  three  thousand  dollars. 

We  then  proceeded  on  our  way  to  the 

CATTARAUGUS  RESERVATION, 

This  settlement  is  now  under  the  immediate  care  of  Genesee 
Yearly  Meeting.  After  travelling  a difficult  road,  for  two  miles 
through  the  woods,  that  nearly  surrounded  the  Indian  settlement, 
we  emerged  from  them,  near  the  brink  of  an  abrupt  descent  of 
perhaps  two  hundred  feet ; below  lay  a delightful  valley,  several 
miles  wide,  nearly  level,  extending  east  and  west  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  reach.  It  was  studded  over,  here  and  there,  with  Indian 
habitations.  Through  this  valley  ran  the  Cattaraugus  creek,  or 
river,  though  hidden  from  our  sight  by  trees.  The  first  dwellings  we 
approached  were  without  chimneys,  and  about  the  poorest  we  had 
seen.  It  was  a pleasant  evening,  and  we  met  several  men,  women 
and  children,  returning  from  the  labors  of  the  field,  with  hoes  in 
their  hands.  We  proceeded  down  the  valley,  on  a pretty  good 
road,  to  the  settlement  granted  by  the  Indians  to  Friends,  for  the 
support  of  an  Indian  school. 


ON  INDIAN  CONCERNS. 


9 


This  establishment  is  on  the  main  road  from  Lodi  to  Lake  Erie. 
The  buildings  are  placed  on  a green  lawn  of  about  an  acre,  and 
consist  of  a dwelling-house  twenty-six  by  thirty-six  feet,  school- 
house,  barn,  and  other  out-buildings.  The  farm  contains  about 
two  hundred  acres  ; seventy  of  which  are  well  enclosed,  and  cul- 
tivated in  wheat,  oats,  Indian  corn,  potatoes,  &c.,  with  considerable 
meadow,  all  in  good  condition.  It  is  superintended  by  Joseph  N. 
Hillman,  a Friend,  much  beloved  by  the  Indians,  and  well  calcu- 
lated for  the  station  he  occupies.  The  school  is  at  present  taught 
by  a young  woman  from  Vermont ; who  had  been  employed  at  the 
Mission  School,  which  is  now  discontinued;  and  feeling  a desire  to 
be  useful  to  this  class  of  people,  readily  embraced  the  opening  in 
our  school,  at  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  a week,  and  her  board. 
We  attended  the  school,  and  procured  a specimen  of  Indian  writing; 
there  were  present  fourteen  small  Indian,  and  a number  of  white 
children,  who,  with  their  parents,  reside  among  them.  In  w inter,  we 
were  told,  it  was  attended  by  an  average  of  twenty-four;  many  of  the 
lai^er  children  being  now  at  home,  employed  in  hoeing  corn  ; a 
number  of  whom  we  saw,  and  found  they  could  read,  write  and 
cypher,  and  speak  tolerable  English. 

This  Reservation  extends  from  the  mouth  of  Cattaraugus  Creek, 
seven  miles  into  the  interior,  and  is  four  miles  wide  ; the  soil  is 
light,  fertile,  and  easy  to  culfivate.  The  principal  clearings  are 
along  the  public  road,  producing  fine  grass  and  grain.  But  a small 
portion  of  the  valley  is  yet  cleared,  much  of  the  timber  being 
heavy.  The  dwellings  are  principally  built  of  logs,  though  there 
are  a number  of  snug  frame  houses,  wdth  good  barns  and  other 
out-houses.  There  is  a saw-mill,  rented  to  a white  man,  and  much 
timber  is  cut  on  this  Reservation. 

The  following  memorandum,  made  by  the  committee  who  visit- 
ed them,  will  convey  some  idea  of  the  situation  of  a number  of 
Indian  families. 

John  White,  a chief,  resides  in  a valley  north  of  the  council, 
house  and  is  comfortably  situated  ; he  has  a frame  house  twenty 
by  thirty  feet,  one  story  and  a half  high,  with  a chimney  in  the 
middle ; it  was  furnished  with  beds,  a few  chairs,  clock,  looking- 
glass,  cooking  and  other  kitchen  utensils.  The  house  was  clean, 
and  an  appearance  of  comfort  prevailed,  giving  evidence  of  domes- 
tic industry — two  daughters  were  working  ornamental  leggins,  the 
rest  of  tho  family,  mother,  sons  and  daughters,  were  at  work  in  a 

2 


10 


NARRATIVE  OF  THE  COMMITTEE 


Corn-field,  which  looked  well  and  in  good  order.  He  had  horses, 
cows,  hogs,  agricultural  implements,  &c. 

Israel  Jimeson  resides  in  the  western  part  of  the  Reservation,  and 
is  quite  an  extensive  farmer,  surrounded  with  most  of  the  comforts  of 
white  people;  he  had  fine  fields  of  barley  and  extensive  meadows. 

Samuel  Gordon’s  is  one  of  the  best  establishments  we  visited  ; 
more  neatness  and  comfort  is  observable  than  in  most. 

Young  Chief,  one  of  the  principal  chiefs,  was  building  a new 
house,  for  himself,  and  we  rejoiced  to  see  that  his  son  was  the 
builder.  While  at  his  house,  he  showed  us  a document  signed  by  a 
large  number  of  Friends,  of  Philadelphia,  dated  about  the  year  1798, 
stating  in  substance,  that  they  totally  disavowed  any  wish  to  obtain 
their  lands,  their  furs,  or  their  money,  in  return  for  any  thing  they 
had  done  for  the  Indians  ; and  we  told  him  we  were  the  same  peo- 
ple. His  house  and  rooms  had  also  the  appearance  of  comfort. 

The  interior  of  a number  of  other  houses  we  visited,  appeared  to 
us  uncomfortable  ; they  had  large  fire-places,  with  a few  chairs  and 
stools.  Various  articles  of  clothing,  harness  and  agricultural  imple- 
ments hung  around  the  walls  and  ceiling.  Thus,  the  interior  of  their 
dwellings  do  not  exhibit  the  conveniencies  that  their  improvements 
without  would  lead  us  to  expect ; varying,  from  a log  hut,  without  a 
floor  or  chimney,  a fire  built  at  one  end,  and  an  opening  in  the  roof 
to  let  out  the  smoke — a stool  and  very  few  culinary  articles;  to  a good 
frame  dwelling,  with  beds,  chairs,  tables,  crockery,  and  kitchen 
utensils,  much  in  the  order  of  a farmer  in  comfortable  circum- 
stances. Many  of  the  men  dress  like  their  white  neighbors ; the 
women  generally  dress  in  short  gowns  and  petticoats,  ornamented 
leggins  and  moccasins,  or  shoes;  they  wear  the  blanket  or  shawl  over 
the  head  and  shoulders,  and  trinkets  about  the  neck.  They  com- 
monly eat  but  twice  a day,  or  when  hungry,  though  many  are  be. 
ginning  to  adopt  the  practice  of  eating  at  regular  periods,  like  white 
people  ; their  principal  diet  is  boiled  homony,  sometimes  sweetened 
with  maple  sugar;  these  Indians  maybe  called  a sober  people. 
As  far  as  we  could  learn,  there  appears  to  have  been  no  actual  suf- 
fering for  want  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  among  them,  during  the 
last  few  years  ; some  support  themselves  well  by  making  mocca- 
sins, &c.  for  sale.  The  women  still  work  in  the  fields,  with  their 
husbands.  There  are  a number  in  this,  as  in  other  reservations, 
who  let  out  their  cleared  land  to  white  people,  at  an  annual  rent  of 
from  two  to  three  dollars  per  acre. 


ON  INDIAN  CONCERNS. 


11 


A new  council-house  was  in  progress,  the  Secretary  of  War 
having  directed  that  the  Grand  Council  of  the  Six  Nations  should 
be  held  at  this  place,  in  8th  month  next.  It  is  a large  frame  build- 
ing, erected  at  the  expense  of  the  Indians. 

Arrangements  havinor  been  made  for  a council  to  be  held  this 
day,  we  visited  the  old  council-house  at  10  A.  M.,  found  the  fire 
kindled,  and  a large  kettle  of  homony  preparing  for  the  Indians  who 
might  attend,  from  a distance.  More  than  twenty  women,  most 
of  them  with  infants  in  their  arms,  occupied  one  portion  of  the 
house  ; these  infants  were  brought  to  be  vaccinated,  which  was 
done  at  the  close  of  the  council,  by  Dr.  John  Wilson  Moore. 

We  went  to  the  assembly  about  1 P.  M.  ; after  a short  pause, 
Young  Chief  arose  and  spoke  a few  words,  which  the  inter- 
preter rendered  in  short  sentences,  to  this  import : “ Brothers ! 
It  is  the  will  of  the  Great  Spirit  that  we  should  meet  hero 
this  day.  We  thank  him  that  he  has  put  it  into  your  hearts  to 
visit  your  red  brethren.  Brothers  ! we  thank  the  Great  Spirit  that 
he  has  preserved  you  in  your  journey.  We  are  now  ready  to  hear 
what  you  have  to  say  to  us.” 

One  of  our  number  then  addressed  them  and  said,  their  breth- 
ren, the  Quakers,  had  sent  a deputation  from  toward  the  rising 
sun,  to  see  them,  and  inquire  after  their  welfare — expressed 
his  satisfaction  at  observing  their  progressive  improvement  in  the 
cultivation  of  their  lands,  and  pointed  out  the  necessity  of  their  con- 
tinuing  to  advance  in  that  respect.  He  urged  the  advantages  that 
would  result  from  sending  their  children,  more  generally,  to  school ; 
and  said,  he  supposed  that  many  ofthe  large  scholars  were  at  this  sea- 
son needed  by  their  parents,  to  assist  in  raising  their  crops,  and  that 
this  circumstance  made  the  school  smaller  than  it  otherwise  would 
be.  He  then  stated  the  benefit  that  would  arise  from  the  women’s 
paying  greater  attention  to  neatness,  and  to  the  increase  of  domes- 
tic comforts,  which  would  encourage  their  husbands  and  sons  to  be 
industrious  in  providing  them  the  means.  And,  lastly,  he  adverted 
to  the  absolute  necessity  of  totally  abstaining  from  strong  waters. 

After  a little  deliberation.  Young  Chief  replied,  taking  up  each 
subject  in  the  order  in  which  it  was  mentioned.  He  fully  admitted 
the  excellency  of  the  advice  given  them,  to  improve  their  lands  ; 
hoped  they  would  continue  to  improve ; said  they  had  many 
difficulties  to  struggle  with,  and  desired  Friends  would  not  be 


12 


NARRATIVE  OP  THE  COMMITTEE 


discouraged  at  their  slow  progress.  He  was  pleased  to  see  that  we 
had  made  allowance  for  the  smallness  of  the  school,  and  attributed 
it  to  the  right  cause.  He  seconded  the  advice  to  their  females,  spoke 
judiciously  in  relation  to  it ; and  closed  with  these  emphatic 
expressions,  on  the  subject  of  temperance  ; “ If  we  fail  in  this,  we 
fail  in  every  thing.” 

Other  chiefs  also  spoke.  The  subject  of  the  treaty  for  the  sale 
of  their  lands,  evidently  lay  heavy  upon  them.  They  thought  it 
“ hard,  very  hard,  to  be  forced  from  their  present  homes.”  Out 
of  five  hundred  inhabitants,  they  did  not  think  one  hundred  were 
willing  to  go  ; although  this  Reservation  was  deemed  to  be  more 
favorable  to  emigration  than  any  other  we  had  seen. 

At  our  request,  Israel  Jimeson,  a chief,  who  had  been  deputed  to 
visit  the  district  of  land  designed  for  them,  beyond  the  Mississippi, 
rose,  and  described  it  to  us  as  follows  : 

He  said,  “ they  travelled  many  days  through  a fine  country, 
abounding  with  deer  and  turkies,  but  they  were  told  this  was  the 
white  man’s  land  ; Indians  must  not  hunt  there.  At  laSt  they  came 
to  a stream,  the  boundary,  as  they  were  informed,  of  the  land  de- 
signed for  the  New-York  Indians.  This  stream  had  abrupt  banks, 
perhaps  sixty  feet  high  ; yet,  he  observed,  the  high-water  marks  on 
the  trees  were  several  feet  above  the  banks.  After  some  unsuc- 
cessful attempts,  they  succeeded  in  crossing  it  on  a raft.  They 
observed  the  river  was  skirted  with  timber  from  half  a mile  to  two 
miles  wide,  he  thought  it  could  not  in  any  place  exceed  three  miles  ; 
‘ all  beyond  was  one  vast  prairie,’  and  which  was  wet  near  the 
river;  he  had  jumped  upon  the  ground  and  made  it  shake  for  rods. 
Further  on,  it  was  covered  with  stones.  In  dividing  the  land  into 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acre  lots,  as  proposed  by  the  government, 
it  was  clear  that  most  of  them  would  be  destitute  of  wood  ; and  the 
little  there  was  on  the  margin  of  the  stream,  as  all  would  have  to 
use  it,  would  be  soon  cut  off;  the  trees  too,  were  small  com- 
pared, with  those  of  Cattaraugus.  J.  F.  Schermerhorn,  United 
States  Agent,  told  them,  this  was  a fine  country  for  Indians,  a per- 
feet  Paradise — plenty  of  hunting  and  fishing.  As  for  fishes,  he 
saw  none,  for  the  water  was  too  muddy  to  see  them  in  it,  and  he 
saw  none  jump  out ; and  the  game  would  soon  be  gone.  The  few 
Indians  he  saw  there  were  nearly  naked,  and  so  wretched,  that,  to 
see  them,  would  make  even  the  heart  of  an  Indian  to  ache 


ON  ir;ri'-N  concerns. 


13 


The  contrast  between  that  country  and  the  lovely  valley  of  their 
own  Cattaraugus,  with  its  clear  streams  and  noble  forests,  was  so 
great,  that  they  would  rather  die  than  make  the  exchange.  He 
observed  that  the  lands  set  apart  for  some  other  tribes,  particularly 
for  the  Cherokees,  were  better  than  those  designed  for  the  New- 
York  Indians.  One  of  the  Indians,  an  aged  man,  said  he  would 
“ take  the  life  of  that  woman,  and  those  children,”  pointing  to  his 
wife  and  family,  “ and  sell  his  own  life  as  dearly  as  he  could,  rather 
than  go  and  on  being  remonstrated  with,  added  “ it  were  better 
to  do  so,  than  consign  them  to  a lingering,  miserable  death.”  This 
last  incident  did  not  occur  in  council. 

Several  of  the  deputation  addressed  the  Indians,  encouraging 
them,  notwithstanding  many  gloomy  prospects,  to  persevere  in  in- 
dustriously acquiring  greater  knowledge  of  agriculture  and  the  me- 
chanic arts  ; and  to  send  their  children  to  school,  by  which  means 
they  might  avail  themselves,  more  and  more,  of  the  advantages  of 
civilized  life.  The  women  were  advised  to  improve  themselves  in 
spinning,  sewing,  and  to  be  neat  in  their  houses ; they  were  told 
much  depended  on  their  exertions  in  these  respects,  in  advancing 
the  prosperity  of  their  people,  and  in  enabling  them  to  rise  to 
greater  usefulness. 

To  which  Young  Chief  and  .Hmeson  made  appropriate  replies, 
expressing  their  full  satisfaction  with  the  school  and  its  superin- 
tendent. 

After  the  chiefs  had  closed  their  remarks,  they  informed  us  that 
they  clearly  understood  our  visit  was  one  of  investigation  and  in- 
quiry only.  An  Indian,  named  Jacob  Johnson,  then  stepped  for- 
ward, and  said,  “ I am  no  chief,  but  feel  so  thankful  to  the  Great 
Spirit,  for  sending  you,  that  I thought  it  required  of  me  to  acknow- 
ledge it.  I remember,  with  feelings  of  gratitude,  the  counsel  1 heard 
from  Friends,  at  Alleghany,  when  I was  a boy  ; and  if  we  had  all 
been  careful  to  follow  that  advice,  our  condition  would  be  much  better 
at  this  day  ;”  adding,  that  he  felt  no  disposition  to  boast  of  his  own 
attainments,  but  he  could  tell  us,  that  the  clothes  he  then  wore,  (and 
he  was  well  dressed,)  were  of  his  own  manufacturing.  He  then  ex- 
pressed a wish  to  shake  hands  with  us,  and  did  so  very  cordially. 

Young  Chief  returned  thanks  to  the  Great  Spirit,  that  we  had 
met ; hoped  that  he  would  preserve  us  on  our  return  home,  and  re- 
store us  in  safety  to  our  families  and  friends ; and  that  if  we  met 
no  more  in  this  world,  we  might  in  another.  The  council  then 
broke  up. 


14 


NAUKATIVE  OF  THE  COMMITTEE 


We  made  arrangements  to  have  a census  taken  of  all  the  In- 
dian population,  over  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  the  Cattaraugus  and 
Buffalo  Reservations,  stating  how  they  stand  as  to  emigration. 

Two  of  the  chiefs  came  to  take  leave  of  us  next  morning,  and  we 
parted  with  feelings  that  will  long  be  remembered. 

In  the  11th  month,  1840,  the  engagement  of  Friends,  with  the 
Indians,  as  respects  the  school  and  the  two  hundred  acres  of  land 
set  apart  for  its  support,  will  expire  ; after  which  period,  it  is  speci- 
fied in  the  articles  of  agreement,  between  the  Indians  and  the  Com- 
mittee of  Genesee  Yearly  Meeting,  that  it  shall  be  continued,  under 
the  care  of  a joint  committee  of  Indians  and  Friends,  for  the  edu- 
cation  of  the  children  in  the  Cattai'augus  Reservation,  for  ever. 

We  next  visited  the 

BUFFALO  RESERVATION. 

This  Reservation  wc  passed  through  on  our  way  to  Cattaraugus. 
We  called  at  Big  Kettle’s  habitation:  he  was  not  at  home,  having 
retired  to  a distant  residence,  in  poor  health.  He  is  said  to  be  a 
man  of  great  powers  of  mind  ; is  the  first  chief  of  the  Seneca 
Nation  since  Red  Jacket,  and  preserves  the  simplicity  of  the  Indian 
character.  His  house,  a small  log  building,  we  felt  strongly  in- 
clined to  enter,  but  an  ox-yoke  leaning  against  the  door  (the  Indian 
lock  and  key)  forbade  the  act,  and  we  retired,  with  feelings  of  re- 
spect, for  the  honesty  of  a people  who  require  no  other  guard 
for  their  property. 

The  main-road  leads  through  this  Reservation,  crossing  the  creek 
several  times  on  good  bridges. 

The  land  is  fine  and  rich,  with  considerable  clearings  on  both 
sides  of  the  road.  There  are  about  seven  hundred  and  forty  in- 
habitants.  Their  houses  are  both  frame  and  log,  with  barns  and 
out-houses.  Severafl  of  the  houses  are  very  commodious,  and  their 
interior  arrangements  are  much  better  than  many  we  had  seen ; 
some  were  well-furnished.  Their  women  were  well  clad,  and  tole- 
rably attentive  to  domestic  order ; they  still  wear  some  beads, 
broaches,  &c.  The  men  were  dressed,  mostly  like  the  whites,  and 
the  young  men  generally  read  and  write,  and  speak  English.  They 
have  one  school,  attended  by  from  ten  to  twenty-five  pupils,  ave- 
raging about  sixteen.  They  are  now  convinced  of  the  necessity  of 
quitting  the  chase,  becoming  farmers,  and  some,  of  educating  their 
children. 


ON  INDIAN  CONCERNS. 


15 


There  are  a few  mechanics  among  them,  such  as  plough-makers, 
carpenters  and  tailors,  but  in  these  branches  they  have  made  little 
progress,  owing  to  their  near  vicinity  to  Buffalo,  where  they  can 
have  their  wants  easily  supplied.  They  have  greatly  improved 
in  temperance,  and  had  they  not  been  so  harrassed  on  the  question 
of  emigration,  their  advancement  in  other  respects  would  have 
been  more  conspicuous.  The  permanent  improvements  making  in 
the  several  settlements,  Ave  thought,  spoke  in  language  stronger  than 
words,  the  general  opposition  to  removal.  But  Ave  were  surprised 
to  observe  similar  improvements  in  and  about  the  dwellings  of  some 
Avho  had  signed  to  go  ; this  circumstance  was,  however,  explained. 
We  Avere  told,  that  in  addition  to  the  money  offered,  to  induce  the 
chiefs  to  sign,  a number  of  them  had  also  obtained  the  promise  of 
retaining  a life-possession  in  their  present  farms.  Thus,  Avhile 
selling  the  lands  of  others,  they  sought  to  retain  their  own. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  MINUTES  OF  THE  COMMITTEE 
ON  INDIAN  CONCERNS. 

At  a Meeting  of  the  Committee,  held  in  Netc-York,  1th  month, 

9th,  1639.  Present  thirty-two  members. 

The  committee  appointed  at  our  last  meeting,  to  visit  the  Indians, 
in  company  Avith  some  Friends  of  Philadelphia  and  Genesee 
Yearly  Meetings,  made  an  interesting  report  of  their  visit  to 
several  tribes  in  our  state  ; Avhich  Avas  very  acceptable  to  us,  and  it 
was  directed  that  it  be  entered  on  our  records. 

Information  Avas  given  to  the  committee,  that  a number  (nine)  of 
our  body  had  Avaited  on  the  President  of  the  United  States,  now  in 
this  city,  to  ask  him  to  delay  signing  the  treaty  lately  made  with 
the  Indians  in  this  state,  until  Ave  could  lay  before  him  evidence, 
that  fraud  had  been  used  in  obtaining  it.  He  received  them  kindly, 
and  informed  them,  that  the  Secretary  of  War,  J.  R.  Poinsett,  in 
order  to  ascertain  the  true  state  of  the  case,  Avould  go  out  and  meet 
the  Indians  in  council,  betAveen  the  first  and  tenth  of  next  month ; 
and  the  President  invited  the  committee  to  delegate  some  of  their 


16 


NAnnATIVD  OP  THE  COMMITTEE 


members  to  be  present  on  the  occasion,  and  see  that  justice  was  done 
to  the  Indians.  On  consideration,  the  following  Friends  were  ap- 
pointed for  that  purpose,  viz.  Robert  Hicks,Thomas  Carpenter,  Amos 
Willets,  Daniel  Carpenter,  Silas  Carle,  Nathaniel  Starbuck,  Samuel 
Smith,  Abraham  Bell,  and  Charles  Marriott.  And  the  Clerk  was  di- 
rected  to  write  to  John  W.  Moore,  of  Philadelphia,  and  Griffith  M. 
Cooper,  of  Wayne  County,  in  this  state,  giving  them  the  foregoing 
information,  and  also  to  inform  them  of  the  appointment  of  a com- 
mittee, by  us,  to  meet  similar  delegations  from  the  committees  of  the 
Yearly  Meetings  of  Philadelphia  and  Genesee,  should  they  think  fit 
to  appoint  such  delegation  : and  they  are  hereby  authorized  to  rep- 
resent us  in  the  proposed  council,  and  afford  the  Indians  such  ad- 
vice  as  they  may  deem  best,  and  report  to  this  committee. 

At  a meeting  of  the  Committee  on  Indian  Concerns,  held  in  New- 
York,  the  2d  of  9th  month,  the  committee  last  mentioned  made  the 
following  report. 

The  Council  met  at  Cattaraugus  the  13th  of  8th  month,  and 
closed  the  following  day. 

All  the  deputation  from  New-York  Yearly  Meeting  attended, 
and  Benjamin  Ferris,  George  Truman  and  Henry  Ridgway,  from 
Philadelphia  Yearly  Meeting,  and  Griffith  M.  Cooper  and  William 
S.  Burling,  from  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Genesee.  Soon  after  their 
arrival,  Friends  divided  themselves  into  several  commiitees,  and 
met  committees  appointed  by  the  Indians,  to  consult,  investigate 
and  arrange  the  business  ; and  they  were  pleased  to  find  that  the 
Indians  were  so  competent  to  manage  their  own  concerns  in  coun- 
cil, as  not  to  require  the  interference  of  Friends. 

In  the  able  report  of  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  at 
Washington,  transmitted  with  the  message  of  the  President  at  the 
opening  of  the  third  session  of  the  twenty-fifth  congress,  1838-9, 
we  find  it  stated,  on  the  authority  of  R.  H.  Gillet,  United  States 
Commissioner  for  the  New-York  Indians,  that  “ The  fee  of  this  land 
(the  Seneca’s)  is  held  by  Massachusetts,  in  trust  for  individuals 
known  as  the  Ogden  Company,  while  the  Senecas  have  a posses- 
sory right  to  it.” 

This  view  of  the  subject  we  deem  entirely  erroneous. 

The  indefeasible  right  of  inheritance,  we  believe,  is  vested  ex- 
clusively in  the  Indians,  and,  we  think,  no  better  title  can  exist. 


ON  INDIAN  CONCERNS. 


17 


The  following  document  will  show  that  this  view  of  the  subject 
has  been  fully  recognized  by  the  government. 

By  authority  of  the  President  of  the  United  States. 

To  all  People  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  come.  Greeting  ; 

Whereas  it  has  been  represented  by  some  of  the 
chief  men  of  the  Seneca  and  Onondaga  nations  of  Indians,  that 
they  are  entitled  to  certain  reserved  tracts  of  land  lying  on  the 
Cattaraugus  Creek,  and  on,  or  near  the  Alleghany,  and  which  has 
been  surveyed,  laid  ofij  and  the  lines  regularly  run^  and  distinctly 
understood.  That  they  are  not  in  possession  of  deeds  securing  to 
them  the  peaceable  and  undisturbed  occupancy  thereof.  As  well, 
therefore,  to  remove  all  apprehensions  from  the  minds  of  the  chief 
men  and  others,  of  the  Seneca  and  Onondaga  nations,  as  to  secure 
to  them  the  possession  of  said  lands.  It  is  hereby  announced,  and 
declared  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  on  behalf  of  the  Government 
of  the  United  Stales,  that  all  lands  claimed  by,  and  secured  to  the 
said  Seneca  and  Onondaga  nations  of  Indians,  by  treaty,  convention, 
or  deed  of  conveyance,  or  reservation  ; lying  and  being  within  the 
limits  of  the  United  States  ; shall  be,  and  remain  the  property  of 
the  said  Seneca  and  Onondaga  nations, ^or  ever;  unless  they  shall 
voluntarily  relinquish  or  dispose  of  the  same. 

And  all  persons,  citizens  of  the  United  States,  are  hereby  strictly 
forbidden  to  disturb  said  Indian  nations,  in  their  quiet  possession  of 
said  lands. 

Given  under  my  hand,  and  the  seal  of  the  War  Office  of  the 
United  States,  this  seventeenth  day  of  March,  in  the  year  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  two. 

(Signed,)  II.  DEARBORN, 

Secretary  of  War. 

It  appears  to  us,  that  the  Ogden  Company  can  have  no  claim  to 
these  lands,  further  than  a pre-emption  right ; and,  how  far  even 
that  claim  is  valid,  seeing  the  Indians,  the  only  real  owners  of  the 
soil,  have  never  been  parties  thereto,  it  is  not  for  us  at  this  time  to 
investigate.  It  may  suffice  to  say,  that,  had  we  found  the  Indians 
willing  to  sell,  and  that  a fair  and  honorable  contract  had  been 
entered  into  by  them,  we  should  have  interposed  no  obstacle  to  its 
fulfilment. 


3 


18 


NARRATIVE  OF  THE  COMMITTEE 


The  following  is  a summary  of  the  facts  that  appeared  to  us  to 
be  satisfactorily  established. 

After  the  council  had  been  opened,  the  Indians  stated  that  it  was 
concluded  that  the  deputation  of  chiefs  from  each  of  the  six  na- 
tions should  answer  separately. 

The  Senecas,  being  the  largest  nation,  including  the  following 
reservations,  viz.  Alleghany,  Cattaraugus,  Buffalo  and  Tonewanda, 
came  forward  first,  and  stated  their  objections  to  the  treaty.  They 
strongly  urged,  that  they  held  nothing  to  be  valid  in  national  con- 
cerns of  this  magnitude,  that  was  not  done  in  open  council.  They 
admitted  that  the  amended  treaty  had  been  fully  and  fairly  explain- 
ed to  them  by  the  United  States  Commissioner,  in  councils  pre- 
viously held,  and  that  sixteen  chiefs  only,  came  forward  in  open 
council,  and  signed  it,  and  that  sixty-two  came  forward  in  the  same 
council  and  signed  a protest  against  it.  This  latter  act,  the 
United  States  agent  refused  to  acknowledge,  but  General  Dearborn, 
commissioner  for  Massachusetts,  being  present,  affixed  his  name  as 
witness  thereto. 

That  council  was  continued  many  weeks  during  the  busiest  sea- 
son of  the  harvest  of  last  year,  greatly  to  the  detriment  of  the 
Indians  in  getting  in  their  crops  and  during  its  intervals,  the 
signatures  of  an  additional  number  of  chiefs  were  privately  obtain- 
ed, by  means  hereafter  to  be  developed  ; against  which  the  In- 
dians earnestly  protest. 

From  accounts,  taken  with  great  care  and  labor,  it  appears,  that, 
of  the  whole  Seneca  nation,  in  all  their  reservations,  two  thousand 
three  hundred  and  fifty-nine  persons  were  opposed  to  emigration, 
and  to  the  amended  treaty ; and  one  hundred  and  forty-six  pro. 
fessedly  in  favor  of  both.*  Of  this  small  minorit)^,  several  were 
chiefs,  who  had  obtained  written  obligations  from  H.  B.  Potter^ 
agent  of  the  Ogden  Company,  promising  them  large  sums  of 
money,  and  in  a number  of  instances,  life-leases  of  the  farms  where 
they  now  reside,  on  condition  that  the  treaty  be  carried  into  effect. 
Copies  of  articles  of  this  description,  entered  into  with  seven 
chiefs,  were  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  after  he 
had  seen  the  originals,  wherein  more  than  seventeen  thousand  dol- 

* Statistical  tables,  duly  attested,  giving  the  names  of  heads  of  families,  &c.  too 
voluminous  for  this  publication,  may  be  seen,  by  calling  on  William  C.  White, 
clerk  of  the  Indian  Committee. 


ON  INDIAN  CONCERNS. 


10 


lars  had  been  thus  promised,  two  of  which  we  annex.  See 
Appendix,  A.  and  B. 

Several  other  chiefs,  whose  names  appear  to  the  said  treaty, 
have  attested,  before  magistrates,  that  if  their  names  are  so  affixed, 
it  has  been  done  without  their  knowledge  or  consent,  or  through 
unfair  and  dishonorable  means. 

Thus  it  appears,  that  those  who  profess  to  be  in  favor  of  the 
treaty,  as  amended,  are  to  remain  and  be  made  rich,  on  condition 
of  selling  the  lands  of  their  brethren,  who,  although  irreconcilably 
opposed  to  going,  are  to  be  forced  to  emigrate,  with  the  loss  of 
valuable  improvements. 

It  may  be  proper  to  state,  that  those  opposed  to  removal,  have 
repeatedly,  and  in  open  council  at  that  time,  offered  the  emigrating 
party  their  full  share  of  the  lands  and  annuities  of  the  nation  ; but 
these  offers  have  not  been  accepted. 

It  was  stated  in  council,  by  those  in  favor  of  the  treaty,  that 
presents  were  always  given  to  the  chiefs,  in  making  treaties,  and 
that  the  Quakers  themselves  gave  presents  on  such  occasions.  Of 
the  truth  of  this  assertion  we  had  no  evidence.  If  presents  were 
ever  made  by  the  proprietors  of  Pennsylvania,  on  occasion  of  any 
treat)’,  they  were  tokens  of  friendship,  after  the  conclusion  of  such 
treaty — not  secret  promises  of  large  sums  to  the  chief,  on  condi- 
tion that  they  would  mako  cessions  of  their  people’s  lands,  contrary 
to  the  known  will  of  the  nation.  The  one  we  view  as  an  honorable 
liberality,  the  other,  as  bribery  and  corruption. 

The  Secretary  of  War,  J.  R.  Poinsett,  conducted  the  business 
with  great  propriety. 

The  case  of  the  Tuscaroras  peculiarly  excited  our  sympathy. 
This  nation  removed  from  North  Carolina  in  1712,  and  found  an 
asylum  among  the  Senecas,  a tract  of  land  being  assigned  them 
near  Niagara  Falls.  Their  numbers  are  less  than  three  hundred, 
viz.  two  hundred  and  thirty  opposed  to  emigration,  and  fifty  in  its 
favor.  When  the  amended  treaty  was  submitted  to  them,  they 
objected  to  it,  seeing  most  of  them  already  possessed  good  farms, 
and  had  become  civilized  ; John  Mountpleasant,  one  of  their  chiefs, 
having  himself,  the  present  year,  more  than  sixty  acres  of  grain. 

The  whole  Onondaga  nation,  residing  on  their  Reservation,  seem 
to  be  unanimous  in  rejecting  the  treaty ; and  they  say,  they 
have  recently  received  an  assurance  from  the  governor  of  this 


20 


KARKATIVE  OF  niB  COMMITTEE 


State,  that  they  shall  not  be  molested.  The  right  of  purchase  re- 
mains in  the  state  of  New-York. 

The  Oneidas  appear  to  stand  twenty-one  in  favor  of  removing 
west,  and  six  hundred  and  seventy-six  opposed  to  removal.  Should 
their  lands  be  hereafter  sold,  the  state  of  New-York  will  have  to 
become  the  purchaser. 

As  respects  the  St.  Regis  Indians,  we  did  not  clearly  learn  the 
relative  numbers,ybr,  and  against  removal ; but,  on  examining  the 
treaty,  we  were  pleased  to  find  that  they  had  procured  a clause  to 
be  added,  by  which  they  were  not  to  be  compelled  by  the  govern- 
ment to  remove. 

Believing  the  foregoing  reports  contain  much  information  that 
will  be  interesting  to  Friends  generally,  one  thousand  copies  are 
directed  to  be  printed  for  distribution  among  our  members. 

Signed  on  behalf  and  by  direction  of  the  Committee, 

WILLIAM  C.  WHITE,  Clerk. 


APPENDIX. 


A. 


Articlks  of  Agreemf-xt,  made  and  concluded  this  seventh  day 
of  August,  1837,  between  Heman  R.  Potter,  of  the  city  of  Buffalo, 
of  th«  first  part,  and  Samuel  Gordon,  a Seneca  Indian  of  Catta- 
raugus Reservation,  in  the  county  of  Erie,  of  the  second  part. 

NViinRHAS,  in  conformity  with  the  declared  policy  of  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States,  the  proprietors  of  the  pre-emption  title 
of  and  in  the  four  several  tracts  of  land  reserved  by  the  Seneca 
tribe  of  Indians,  within  the  said  state  of  New-York,  are  desirous  to 
induce  the  above-mentioned  tribe  of  Indians  to  accept  for  their 
future  and  permanent  residence,  a tract  of  country  in  the  territory 
west  of  the  river  Mississippi,  appropriated  for  Indians  inhabiting 
the  Atlantic  and  other  neighboring  states  ; and  are  also  desirous, 
by  fair  purchase,  to  extinguish  the  right  of  the  said  Indians,  in  and 
to  the  lands  in  this  state,  so  reserved  by  them.  And,  whereas,  in 
furtherance  of  these  objects,  and  in  order  to  a future  treaty,  by 
which  to  effect  the  same,  the  said  proprietors  have  authorized  ne- 
gotiations  to  be  opened  with  the  chiefs,  and  other  leading  men  of 
the  said  tribe  of  Indians  ; and  certain  offers  to  be  made  to  them  in 
mr>ney,  as  a permanent  fund  for  the  nation,  and  a compensation  for 
their  improvements;  and  have  also  deemed  it  adviseable  and 
necessary  to  employ  the  aid,  co-operation,  and  services,  of  certain 
individuals  who  are  able  to  influence  the  said  Indians  to  accept  of 
the  offer  so  to  be  made  to  them.  And,  whereas  the  said  Heman 
B.  Potter,  the  party  of  the  first  part,  is  empowered  to  act  on  behalf 
of  the  said  proprietors,  and  to  contract  with  any  individual  whose 
co-operation  and  agency  may  be  necessary  and  efficient,  in  ac- 
complishing  the  above-mentioned  object ; and  the  said  Samuel 
Gordon,  the  party  of  the  second  part,  lias  agreed  to  contribute  his 
influence  and  services  in  the  premises  : Now,  therefore,  it  is 

mutually  agreed,  by  and  between  the  parties  hereto,  as  follows. 
First,  the  party  of  the  second  part  undertakes  and  agrees  to  use 
his  best  exertions  and  endeavors,  to  dispose  and  induce  the  said 
Indians  to  adopt  and  pursue  the  advice  and  recommendations  of  the 
government  of  the  United  States,  in  respect  to  their  removal  and 
future  location  ; and  on  such  fair  terms  as  the  party  of  the  first 
part,  and  his  associates,  in  the  name  of  the  said  proprietors,  shall 
propose  ; to  sell  and  release,  by  treaty,  their  said  reserved  land.s, 
and,  on  all  occasions,  to  co-operato  with  and  aid  the  said  party  of 


23 


▲FPENDIX. 


the  first  part,  and  his  associates,  as  he  may  be  from  time  to  time 
advised,  in  talks  and  negotiations  with  the  chiefs,  and  other  influ- 
ential  men  of  the  said  tribe,  and  in  the  active  application  of  his 
whole  influence  at  councils,  and  confidential  interviews,  for  the 
purpose  of  effecting  a treaty  between  the  said  tribe  and  the  said 
proprietors,  for  the  extinguishment  of  the  Indian  title  to  the  said 
reserved  lands.  Second,  In  consideration  of  such  efforts,  co-ope- 
ration  and  services,  on  the  part  of  the  said  Samuel  Gordon,  faithfully 
bestowed  in  the  premises,  the  said  Heman  B.  Potter,  on  his  part, 
and  that  of  his  associates,  agrees  to  pay,  or  cause  to  be  paid,  to 
the  said  Samuel  Gordon,  the  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars,  within 
three  months  after  notice  of  the  ratification  by  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States,  of  a valid  treaty  between  the  said  tribe  and  the 
owners  of  the  said  pre-emptive  title,  or  their  trustees,  by  which  the 
right  and  title  of  said  Indians  shall  be  effectually  released  and  ex- 
tinguished, in  and  to  the  said  reserved  lands.  This  Agreement, 
on  the  part  of  said  party  of  the  first  part,  being  expressly  depend- 
ant  upon  a treaty,  to  be  made  and  ratified,  upon  terms,  conditions, 
and  stipulations,  to  be  proposed  and  offered  by  the  said  party  of  the 
first  part,  and  his  associates. 

H.  B.  POTTER.  (l.s.) 
SAMUEL  GORDON,  (l.s.) 

Witness, 

O.  Allen. 

It  is  understood  and  agreed,  that  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dol- 
lars is  to  be  added  to  the  written  contract. 

O.  Allen. 

H.  P.  Wilcox. 

Sept.  29, 1838.  [A  copy.] 


B 

It  is  agreed,  between  Heman  B.  Potter,  of  the  city  of  Buffalo, 
of  the  first  part,  and  Blue  Eyes,  a Seneca  Chief  of  the  Cattaraugus 
Reservation,  of  the  second  part,  as  follows : That,  in  case  the 

Seneca  tribe  of  Indians  shall  accept  the  offers  of  the  government 
of  the  United  States,  for  their  removal  to  the  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi river,  and  shall  sell  their  lands  in  this  state  to  the  pre-emptive 
owners,  upon  negotiations  now  pending  ; and,  in  case  the  said  Blue 
Eyes  shall  faithfully  co-operate  with,  and  aid  the  said  Heman  B. 
Potter,  and  his  associates,  as  he  may  be  advised  from  time  to  time, 
by  his  services  and  influence  at  councils,  and  confidential  inter- 
views, for  the  purpose  of  effecting  a treaty  between  the  said  tribe 
and  the  said  proprietors,  for  the  effectual  release  and  extinguish- 
ment of  the  Indian  title  of,  in,  and  to  the  said  reserved  lands,  which 
he  engages  to  do,  and  sign  said  treaty ; and  if  such  treaty  shall  be 


APPENDIX. 


2ff 


made,  and  shall  be  thereupon  ratified  by  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States,  then,  the  said  Heman  B.  Potter,  who  is  authorized  to  act  in 
the  prentises,  for  said  proprietors,  hereby  stipulates  and  agrees,  for 
himself  and  his  associates,  to  pay,  or  cause  to  be  paid,  to  the  said 
Blue  Eyes,  the  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars,  in  three  months  after 
notice  of  such  ratification  ; and,  also,  that  the  said  Blue  Eyes 
shall  be  entitled  to  a lease  from  the  said  pre-emptive  owners,  or 
their  trustees,  of  about  fifty  acres  of  land,  where  he  now  lives,  on 
the  Cattaraugus  Reservation,  for  and  during  his  natural  life,  to  be  ter- 
minable whenever  he  shall  cease  to  live  on  and  occupy  the  same,  said 
lease  to  be  executed  as  soon  after  said  treaty  as  said  lands  shall  be 
surveyed  into  lots. 


Witness,  our  hands  and  seals.  Sept.  16,  1837. 


In  presence  of 

Sauuel  Gordon. 


H.  B.  POTTER. 

His 

BLUE  X EYES. 

mark. 

[A  copy.] 


(l.  8.) 
(l.  8.) 


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